Little Things

Watching college football at home.

A peaceful drive home.

My dad washed my car and put air in my tires.

Coffee date and thrift store shopping with my mom.

Cozy nights in warm pajamas.

Words

I got this sweet sweet message in my inbox on Friday night from my mom. Last week was long and I was running low on energy. As I was walking back from an Improv show on campus with a few friends I read this…oh my goodness you should have seen my smile! My mom has always been my biggest cheerleader, but this encouragement came at the very best moment. I was thankful. I was spurred on. I was encouraged by her words.

I wanted to share this to remind you to never underestimate the power of your words! Be a source of encouragement today, friends.

Fullness

A little glimpse out my bedroom window…

Yesterday was a rainy and dreary Monday (windy and cold too). It was one of those days where you wish going to class and work were optional. I guess technically they are, but that wouldn’t make me the best student or employee…

Anyway, I had a break in the afternoon in between classes and work so I trudged back to my apartment. I changed out of my wet clothes and climbed into my warm bed with my Bible. I’m currently studying Colossians with She Reads Truth and yesterday’s devotion focused on Colossian 2:6-15. The entire section rocked me, but I was especially struck by verse 10…

“and you have been given FULLNESS in Christ, who is the head over EVERY power and authority.”

I stopped and immediately spoke that verse out loud. I have been given FULLNESS in Christ. Even more so, I haven’t been given fullness by just anybody, but by the the very Lord who is over every power and authority. He is stronger than anything that tries to enslave me. He is stronger than any of the lies that the enemy uses to wage war against my soul. He is stronger because He is the only One who can truly give fullness.

This song came on while I was reading and it made me get up and dance around my bedroom. Oh the truth of the lyrics are a reason to rejoice…I encourage you to listen. I hope that you are able to dance in the fullness that Christ gives…

Much much love to all of you!

Kitchens are for dancing…

{via}

I had one of the most laid back weekends. All of my roomies were out of town so I had our little apartment all to myself. On Saturday morning, I woke up slowly and soaked in the calmness of the quiet space. As I started to dig into the truth held in Colossians, I pulled up Pandora to play my Billie Holiday station. I felt like I was transported back to a different era as the jazz replaced the quietness. It was wonderful.
 

One day I will dance in the kitchen with my future husby. Whether it’s on a rainy Saturday morning or on a Tuesday night after a long day at work. I want to dance for I am convinced that dancing in the kitchen is one of life’s little joys. It makes you smile in thanksgiving for being alive in that moment.
 

So, future husby, get ready because our kitchen will be a place of joy and dancing.
 

Friday’s Letters

Dear pomegranate seeds,

You are delicious and I’ve been eating you like crazy the past few days. I just wish pomegranates were a little bit cheaper…

Dear The Civil Wars,

I keep coming back to your music because you are that talented. Anytime I’ve had iTunes open this week you’ve been on repeat.

Dear philosophy of education paper,

I have lots of ideas swirling around about how to best convey my passion with others in 4-5 pages. That’s a good thing because I’ll be spending all Sunday afternoon writing you.

Dear dad,

I love that you drove over to my little college town to take me out to lunch earlier this week. I loved getting to spend the afternoon with you. Plus, I couldn’t help but smile when you called me later just to tell me that I looked beautiful.

Dear weekend,

I welcome you with open arms.

Dear fall,

You’ve felt more like winter this week. When I get back to my apartment all I want to do is curl up under a blanket with leggings, a hoodie, and socks to keep warm.

Dear Katie (from Hope Engaged),

I’m so so thankful for our friendship and that we were finally able to have a Skype date. You’re lovely, radiant, and entirely genuine. I can’t wait for more Skype dates in the future! And your encouragement blessed me more than you know.

Side note: If you haven’t “met” Katie yet, you must. It’s such an understatement when I say that she’s wonderful. Go say hi here!

Just a small glimpse of what most of my afternoons have looked like this week! Comfy and cozy. Also, I get to admire the last of the fall colors on my walk to work everyday.

Weekend Recap

Sadly, this is the only picture I have from this weekend. I’ll do better next time. Ha!

Girls, I had the absolute best weekend. After I left work on Friday I went to Target to do a little shopping. I convinced myself that I just had to stop by Starbucks before I started to walk around…the caffeine definitely gave the extra boost I needed after working with three year olds all afternoon. I must have looped around Target no less than four times as I gathered everything I had on my shopping list. I really enjoyed having alone time as I walked around. It’s amazing how much refreshment a trip to Target and Starbucks provides.

Later that evening I watched Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window,” and oh it was so good. It was suspenseful and captured my attention immediately. Then add in Grace Kelly’s timeless beauty and Jimmy Stewart’s class to the mix. I definitely suggest watching it if you get the chance! I also registered for classes in the spring when registration opened up at midnight. I was able to get in all of the classes I need/want. Yay!

Everything about Saturday was perfect and lovely. First of all, I got to sleep in! Since I have 7:45am and 8am classes every day I always look forward to the Saturdays that I don’t have to set an alarm. Once I woke up slowly I spent the afternoon relaxing. Late Saturday afternoon a group of girls from my hall met up with a group of guys from another dorm. We drove about 30 minutes out of town to go hiking and have a bonfire. We got there as the sun was setting and hiked to an overhanging bluff. Most of the hike was hand over foot, but it was so much fun and definitely worth it. When we got to the top the sun finally sank down and the night sky was lit up with stars.

We roasted hotdogs and had s’mores on the bonfire. The wind made the direction of the flames change directions often as we soaked in the crisp November night. We eventually let the fire die out and then star gazed. That was my absolute favorite. There weren’t any city lights. There weren’t any traffic sounds. I simply laid there in awe of my Creator. It was just perfect. When we hiked down the mountain the only light to guide us was that of a few flashlights. There were many times where I had to slide onto my bottom because I couldn’t see in front of me. Oh, but it was so much fun.

On Sunday, I woke up to start getting ready for church, but my lower back was in pain and I felt nauseous so I decided to stay home. I crawled back into bed and went back to sleep. Those extra two hours curled up helped tremendously with the pain. I spent the rest of the day studying for Biology while listening to The Civil Wars and Gungor. It was an all together lovely weekend.

P.S. Gungor’s new album, a creation liturgy, is incredible! I highly recommend listening to it. 

Fill in the blanks…

I pinned this photo to my on a perfect day board on Pinterest a week or so ago, and I’ve been enamored with it ever since. It illustrates how I feel today and oh how I wish I could just hop on a train and travel through the wilderness. I would bundle up with a scarf, hat, and boots…then I would sit at the window with a cup of coffee and gaze at all the scenery. It would be a perfect day.

Anyway, I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to blog about today so when I found this prompt I decided that I was just going to fill in the blanks…

1. I am a dreamer and a doer.

2. The bravest thing I've ever done was move away to attend college where I didn’t know a single soul.

3. I feel prettiest when someone tells me so. Or at night right before I slip into bed with a makeup less face and naturally curly hair.  

4. Something that keeps me awake at night is an overactive mind.

5. My favorite meal in the entire world is homemade chicken & dumplings or my mom’s sweet potato casserole.

6. The way to my heart is through genuineness and intentionality. Or with coffee, peanut butter M&M’s, and children’s books (on a lighter note).

7. I would like to love Christ more and more. Encourage and love my future students as a teacher. Be a wife one day that brings honor and joy to my husband.